Many of you who've read my pieces over the past year know how strongly I feel about animals and their well-being. You also know that there's little that can stop me once I make up my mind to do something, regardless of what that "something" is. My passion for animals is my greatest passion, and it brings out the innate tenacity that is the truest part of my nature. So, it probably comes as no surprise that the following words will, perhaps, come across as a loud shout as the clock continues to tick for the horses I'm about to speak of. Please know that my aim is to inspire you to ACT. I have the strongest faith in humanity and I know, deep in my heart, that there are many out there who'd love to help, if only they knew how. So, without further ado, let's get on with it, shall we?

I met Cynthia and Tony Royal a few weeks ago when they came to have a look at some rails for their horse facility. The man who owns the house (from whom I rent) had kindly offered to allow them to borrow what he had until the horses could be moved to their permanent facility. Upon meeting the Royals, I had the strong sense that my life was about to change in a very big way. It'd been 5 years since I'd last ridden a horse, mainly because of some physical limitations that infringed on my confidence to ride. No matter how much time passed, the ache to be near them, to ride them, to have them in my life never diminished. So, when Tony and Cynthia told me about their project, my entire Being lit up. Could it be that after all this time I would finally be able to help, even with this painful (physical) malady I'd been carrying all this time? Could it be that this 'malady' was, in fact, bringing me to my own highest good? Could it be that all the pain was a messenger to urge me toward my greatest passion? I barely slept that night, my mind whirling with visions of horses and the wind in my hair and the task that I was about to begin.

Before I go further, it would be helpful for you to know what the Royals are doing and why it's so important to all of us. Cynthia is an equine behaviorist and one of the foremost clinicians who teaches natural, trusting communication with horses. Now, I know most of you have heard of such people, what with the movie "The Horse Whisperer" and all the other hoopla around so-called "natural training". But I can tell you firsthand that many of those people do not use the methods they claim to use. Often times, there is a great deal of force, pain and domination used to get horses to do what they (the trainers) want, regardless of their claims of 'harmless techniques'. Don't believe me? YOU try wearing a bit in your mouth for a few hours and tell me it's "painless". Near as I can tell, there isn't a horse on the planet that would prefer to have a bit stuck in his mouth or shoes on his feet. Natural means natural. No bits. No shoes. No "specially designed" ropes that cut into the horse's face. Just the horse and his person, communicating in the horse's language so as to form the bond of trust.

So, when I first heard about Cynthia's techniques, I was more than a bit skeptical. For me, the proof is in the showing. I want to see with my own eyes what folks claim to be 'harmless' techniques. And the first time I watched as Cynthia walked her horse into the arena for a little practice time, I could barely believe my eyes. This horse followed her like my dog follows me. Neither halter nor rope were used on this magnificent creature. She simply walked to his stall, opened the gate and turned around to walk into the arena, the horse right behind her. Once in the arena, she used her beautiful, soft voice and very subtle hand gestures to ask the horse to turn this way or that, to come, to stop, to rear up right in front of her! As for the horse, it was clear that he was having as much fun as she was. In other words, he was doing what she asked because he wanted to, not because he was afraid not to. You could see that he trusted her as much as she did him. And it was utterly clear that this horse wanted very much to play with her. I'll say that again: he WANTED to. This is what liberty training is all about.

Now that I've seen with my own eyes and learned more about what Cynthia and Tony are doing, I can't imagine not participating in this cause. So, on with the story:

The herd of 27 (mostly white Arabians) were in dire need of rescuing. The people who had them were unable to care for them after the Mrs. fell ill. Money was in short supply and the physical tasks were far too great for the elderly gentleman to handle on his own. Time and neglect had taken it's toll on the herd and their fate was nearly sealed. They were destined for the slaughterhouse if someone didn't step in and do something about it. When Cynthia and Tony learned of this herd's fate, they knew exactly what they had to do. The "How" was a mystery. But there was no doubt that action was required and they were just the people to take it.

They drove north to a little town just outside of Stockton, California, to meet with the owners and the horses. In Cynthia's words: "Walking calmly amidst this herd of virtually untouched horses is difficult to describe. I've been among large herds before, both domestic and wild, but nothing like this. All gathered near ~ in front of, beside and behind us, eagerly awaiting their chance to say hello and just be with us. These horses were polite, well-mannered and seeking our company. They were also desperately in need; malnourished with feet in dreadful condition, long manes hopelessly matted, parasites flourishing. And all of the mares are pregnant. Two of them ready to deliver within days. The conditions they were living in were deplorable and these magnificent horses were suffering from extreme neglect. Their elderly owners had finally said uncle and were seeking help for their doomed horses. That's why we were there."

The goal now is to get the horses transported down to their ranch in the San Diego area. They will keep the herd intact and create an experiential opportunity where human healing (through Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, hereby referred to as EAP), growth and learning is made possible. Where people can experience complete trust and acceptance as a member of the herd. And thereby, become advocates for more collaborative relations with our animal friends, ourselves, and our planet. The EAP will target veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress disorder, children of neglect and people who've suffered abuse. These types of programs have proven to be miraculous in nearly every case, both for the horses and the people who come in contact with them. This, too, is something I've experienced first hand. It's really hard to describe what happens when horses are paired with humans who've suffered such emotional trauma. But upon witnessing it, you will know the joy and growth that results from such experiences.

The reason I'm writing all this now is because the fires have been lit anew. I know how important this is for all of us. I also know that more and more horses are being put to needless death just because so many people can no longer afford to feed them. It's an horrendous situation and one that needs to be addressed NOW. If people think we can live without these magnificent creatures, they're sorely mistaken. The horse has just as much influence on our lives as the car does. We need them. And it's my 'mission' to help in any way I can. This is my purpose here today.

Now, I realize that many people are really struggling right now. The American economy is in the toilet. And so many are wondering how they're going to put food on the table, let alone send their kids to college. But...(isn't there always a "but"?!) here's the thing:

IF EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO READS THIS PIECE SENT JUST $5 TO THE PEGASUS RISING PROJECT, the results would be staggering. FIVE DOLLARS. That's one latte. That's one meal at Burger King. That's a soda and a burrito at the local 7-11. FIVE DOLLARS! So, if you think you can't help, think again. $5 can save a life...and more than just a horse's life. When these horses are back to wellness, they, too, shall do their part to help humanity. I think it's a very small price to pay for a very large return. What about YOU?

For more information and to make your donation, please visit www.pegasusrising.org OR you may email Camille directly via this site. PLEASE don't wait. The clock is ticking...for all of us.

You hear it all the time..."just go with the flow"...& often times, I wonder why we make that so hard. Why do we fight what IS in the name of what we would 'rather be doing'. I know this feeling all too well. Pretty much every job I've ever had was spent wishing I was elsewhere. An awful way to live. Excruciating, really.

Now, however, I see things a bit differently. I realize that this moment is the only one I really have, so rather than wishing I were elsewhere, doing something else, I prefer to savor the taste of HERE. I take time to really inhale everything around me, marveling at the wonder of the miracles I see. Little things, like a zillion bees buzzing in the massive palm near the house. Or the dew on a magnificent spider web that was spun while I slept. Or the happy little noises my cat makes when she wants my attention. All these things are wonders to me. Can you imagine spinning a web? Have you ever looked at the precision of a spider web? Incredible, indeed. Life is like that too. If only we take the time to notice.

Recently, because of some funky dis-ease that's been going on in my body, I've had lots of time to just sit & BE. Moving is sometimes quite painful, so being still helps to calm the pain. Be still & sit. Be still & BE. Sounds boring, I'm sure, but honestly, not at all. Anyone who knows me might think I've lost my mind (hearing me say this), but it's true. I've always gone 240 MPH...my whole life. Now, because of this new experience, I've been forced to slow wayyyyyyyy down. A brand new adventure for someone like me. The result? A brand new way of looking at things. Pretty cool, really. Especially considering 'from whence I came'.

Life is funny. Life has a way of delivering precisely what we need at the perfect moment. My own 'package' was delivered 16 months ago...& I'm still opening it up, peering inside, learning the lessons I've apparently written for myself. It's all my doing, and I KNOW it. I won't say it's been 'fun'. But I will say that were it not for what's been going on, I wouldn't have had the insights to so many new things. I'm grateful, I'm astonished, I'm acutely aware of so much more than I ever was. This must be a good thing, yes?

In all, I suppose you could say that I'm learning, baby steps at a time, to really go with the flow. To stop resisting what IS & stay right here, in this moment, for all it's worth. Not always easy, but not nearly as hard as I once thought. Try it sometime. You might be happily surprised.

Very recently someone asked me to speak of my 'dis-ease' so that I might share some of the insights I've had with others who may also be suffering from some sort of malady. I responded by saying that I really don't like to talk about it, mostly because I believe that the more I focus on what's wrong, the more wrong I feel. I did, however, tell her that I'd find a way to share what I've learned in some way that didn't involve speaking of said dis-ease. And wouldn't you know it, as I pondered just how I'd do this, I had a moment of acute clarity about all of it...an epiphany, so to speak. While I may not wish to perpetuate this malady by focusing on it, I do very much wish to share as much as I can in order to, perhaps, help others to see their way back to wellness. To that end, I'll share this moment of clarity, this 'light bulb' moment, that seems to me to be an enormous step in clearing out the junk and moving on.

When this strange and troublesome malady began, I was the picture of perfect health. My body was strong, fit, agile. There was no warning whatsoever. So when it happened, it completely turned my Life upside down. I went from full-tilt 'active' to lying in the fetal position, sobbing from the pain of it all. I was confused. I was terrified. I was angry! Oh boy, was I ever angry. All the usual questions ran through my head as I laid there, all curled up in a little ball. How could this happen to me? Why is this happening? What did I do to make my body hurt so much? And on and on it went. I refused to buy into the many different diagnoses I was given. They were all over the place and none seemed to be remotely possible to me. No way, no how. In short, I was completely convinced that what was happening was a result of some inner imbalance...a body/mind/spirit that was fragmented by my negligence. I was ignoring my body's messages to slow down. I was running hard and fast, 24/7. I was, for all intents and purposes, completely abusing the vitality my body had always graced me with. I was a mess!

The other side of this was that while my body may have been a 'perfect specimen', my emotional, (or should I say 'core'?), Being was enraged. Not outwardly. In fact, most folks thought of me as an optimistic, happy person. This was all they saw because it was all I showed. I wore this facade so well that even I didn't know just how enraged I was. Sure, I'd had a pretty short fuse when I was younger, but I'd always attributed that to being my father's daughter AND to be Italian. You know those crazy Italians? Yep. Me too. So it was a bit of a shock when my older sister asked me one day, "why are you so a-n-g-r-y???" And the moment she asked the question, I broke down and cried like a baby. I had no idea why. I just was. I couldn't really put my finger on it. There was no horrible childhood or betrayed parental trust or anything like that. I was just pissed off and, as I thought about it, I had been for a very long time.

So, here I was, all curled up in excruciating pain with no apparent relief in sight. I tried all sorts of different remedies, ranging from meditation to raw diets to simply sleeping as much as possible. I prayed. I screamed. I begged. Nothing. NO relief whatsoever. And then...

I called my sister one day, certain that I couldn't take one more second of it. I was, for the first time in my life, considering how I might be able to just end it. This thought alone terrified me. I, Camille Olivia, "lover of life", was thinking about dying???? It scared me so badly that I called her sobbing, unable to even speak, and she immediately went into Healer mode. She spoke ever so softly to me, assuring me that 'we' would get through this. Assuring me that it was NOT my time to go..I still have much left to do. Little by little, I began to breathe again. I allowed her to calm me with her words, with her love. I gave up the fight and merely listened. When she was sure that I was calm enough, she offered this: "It is your rage, my sister. This thing that's happening is years and years of rage you held inside and now your body is responding to that rage. It's trying to help you let go of all that anger. Are you listening now?"

The moment she said it, I knew she was right. I knew that my body was burning up from the inside out. I knew that if I didn't let it go I was going to die. So began the next lesson. How to let it go. I didn't need to know why I was angry. I didn't need to place blame or find that 'thing' that caused all this rage. All I needed to do was let it go. Sounds pretty easy, yes? Well, not so much. When a person carries that kind of powerful emotion for all that time, it's a bit of a challenge to just let it go. But that didn't stop me from trying. And try I have. Little by little, I've found ways to identify the anger when it starts to rear it's ugly head, and stop it as soon as I feel it coming on. I stop, I listen, and I use kind words to assure my Self that I am loved, I am safe, I am well. Not surprisingly, the pain began to subside. In a very big way, I could feel the shift. It was working!

Fast-forward to this 'epiphany'. I'm in the kitchen, preparing dinner for my housemate and myself, enjoying the process of preparing food, when he begins to taunt me. (He has some passive/aggressive issues...but that's a whole 'nother story...) As he continued with his taunting I could feel that familiar heat rise up in my body. I identified it immediately, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't seem to stop it. I put down the knife I was using to cut the meat, grabbed my glass of water, and walked outside. I went down to my Zen garden and sat. I did my deep breathing exercises and stared out at the beautiful view in front of me. I closed my eyes and tried to think of 5 things I had to be grateful for. I used every tool in my box in an attempt to let go the anger. All to no avail. I was mad as a wet hen and there was, seemingly, nothing I could do about it. This made me even more angry. (go figure!) All this time, all these meditations, all this 'stuff'...and I'm back to square one? WHUT THE...?????? By the time night fell, my entire body was screaming in pain. Just a few hours earlier I was feeling pretty good. Then, just like that, POOF...huge, screamig pain.

As I sat there, feeling the pain and that all-too-familiar fear, I suddenly realized what had happened. I realized that the anger that I wasn't able to manage had caused the pain to return full force. I realized that by allowing some outside force to infringe on my state of mind, I'd given up the power to love myself to wellness. It was as clear as day. And right then, I laughed out loud. I let that laughter swell up and grow, louder and stronger. I laughed like I was insane. Because, at that moment, I was. I was crazy with relief. I was crazy with awareness. I was crazy with the power that I'd finally taken back. It was one of the most beautiful moments I've ever experienced. And at that precise moment, when I saw it all so clearly, the pain just went away. Not kidding. It was GONE.

Now, as I sit here attempting to share this story (without writing a novel!), I marvel at the simplicity of it all. I'm washed in the warmth of deep gratitude for the lesson that was so simple. Anger, no matter how we may try to hide it, is a result of either fear or judgement. When we can stop judging and stop being afraid of things that may seem threatening, we no longer feel anger. Anger, like guilt, is about one of the most destructive emotions we can punish ourselves with. And in the end, it will hurt us. It will hurt more than we could ever imagine. So now, knowing this, my 'job' is to recognize it and toss it to the winds. I don't need it any longer. I know, deep in my core, that as soon as I allow it to flow out, all of this...this dis-ease...will be gone too.

www.joyzachoice.com
www.therajaproject.org

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.
Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~~ Albert Schweitzer

Each of us has our challenges..or opportunities...depending on how we choose to perceive them. When those opportunities arise, it's up to us to see them as such...OPPORTUNITIES to grow. Even in the most difficult situations, there is something to be learned, something to bring us closer to our true Selves. Something to be grateful for. And if we can hold on to this little pearl, we can move through whatever it is without suffering. Because there IS a difference between pain and suffering. Pain is just pain. It can be momentary or long-lasting. It can be weathered. It can even be embraced. But the suffering...that part is what WE do to ourselves. Suffering is merely our refusal to accept, embrace and delve into our pain. The more we resist, the more we suffer. Not so with pain.

It occurred to me recently that no matter what is going on in my world, there are several people who are ALWAYS there to help me through. They provide the most unflinching love. They offer silence; a place for me to pour my noise and let go. They offer gentle suggestions, which I can use or leave. They even offer, always at the perfect moment, laughter, so that I may unload the heaviness and let my Self 'light' again. They are my rocks. And without them, I'm certain I'd not be who I am. They bring me back to my Spirit, never judging or chiding. Only pouring love into me, without keeping track of how much. They are my angels here in this time/space. They are the ones I am most grateful for.

Gratitude is a marvelous place to Live. In gratitude, we have more to be grateful for. In orther words, the more grateful we are for what we have, the more we have to be grateful FOR. Gratitude does, indeed, beget gratitude. It's a beautiful formula for living a beautiful life, despite the 'challenges'. Today, in this place I call 'my Life', I am deeply grateful for those angels and all the love they give so freely. Today, I live in Gratitude.

We are in the midst of a fund raising project to help pay for Buddy's enormous Vet bill. While I am utterly grateful to have his (the Vet's) trust, I am also equally determined to pay him for the services that saved Buddy's life. I realize not everyone has the means (or wishes) to let go of their money, especially if you don't know who I am. I understand your skepticism...as there are so many illicit people out there scamming good hearts. So, in lieu of cash donations (which we will happily accept and/or forward the Vet's info so you can donate directly to him), we've come up with another idea~

Being the environmentally aware person I am, I am largely in favor of carrying canvas totes (rather than the usual 'paper or plastic?'. I have decided that we're going to make such totes and offer them for sale to raise the funds for Buddy. You send me your old jeans (or any other clothing that's sturdy enough to make totes) and I'll make the totes, put them on my site and accomplish 2 things: pay the Vet AND get more folks using totes!

So, if you'd like to help, please contact me. I'll send you my mailing address. Also, if you would, please PASS THE WORD! The more the merrier!

A recent stream of events has caused me to pause for a moment, well, more than just one, and reconsider the course of this thing called 'my Life'. I've been on a mission for a pretty long time, a mission to examine how I operate and change those things which no longer serve me. Sort of like lying in the pyre, allowing the fire to consume me, and rise again just as the Phoenix rises every 500 years. It is said that with each rising, more of 'who' you are comes to fore. I believe this to be true, but sometimes the heat gets a bit uncomfortable. A friend put it this way, "If you can't handle the heat, don't tickle the Dragon". I love that little phrase, and when the fire gets too hot, it seems to help me tremendously. And so....

During this 'stream of events', I found myself wondering 'why' about a lot of stuff. Like why would anyone intentionally attempt to cause pain to another? Or why, by a certain time in a person's life, would they resort to the behavior of a 12 year old? Or...most importantly, why do I even wonder why? After all, I'm the one who put my canoe in the river. If the water gets too murky, it's up to me to steer elsewhere, yes? When those muddy waters turn to muck, the boat is likely to get stuck BIG TIME. So, having been Captain of my canoe for all this time, one would think it'd be a simple matter of just paddling downstream, as opposed to fighting the currents, yes? If this is the case, and I know it to be true, what difference does it make whether or not others are ATTEMPTING to impede my progress? Does it? Does it really matter?

I have come to believe that the only things that cause us 'trouble' are those things we hang on to. There was a time when the adage 'hang tuff' was what I thought was the 'right' way to do things. Now, however, I think a bit differently. I think that the whole 'letting go' process is a much more sane approach. When we let go, we have only our own Spirit to guide us to a landing. I always refer back to my very favorite quote:

When you come to the edge of all you know
You must believe in one of two things
You will be given earth on which to stand
Or you will be given wings

So, as this stream of events unfolded, I found myself chanting this little phrase. Over and over, taking deep breaths and keeping my Self centered, I repeated this mantra...and actually managed to stay calm! A year ago, this would not have been the case. A year ago, I'd have been ranting like a banshee, determined to 'get my revenge'. I'd have called in 'the forces' and made plans to retaliate, much like the old-time mobsters did back in the day. That would have been my driving force. Revenge, retaliation, justice. But not today. Today, I am aware of the repercussions of such actions. I am aware that whatever I do to anyone else, comes back to me a hundred fold. I am happily aware that justice is not my job. Justice is an inside job for a power much larger than this puny human. And I trust that power as I trust the sun to rise each day.

It's a really terrific feeling, letting go. It's so much more conducive to living in joy. It's FREEDOM at it's very best. Letting go of those things we have no control of...THIS is what it means to be free. The best I can wish for now, in lieu of revenge, is that those who wish to harm others find some semblance of peace one day soon. Instead of thinking harmful thoughts toward them, I light a candle and say a prayer. 'Please, please give them a moment of peace. Please, please show them love. Please, shine the light of your Grace on them so they may find land on which to stand or wings to fly."

Some people call it Karma. Some call it Payback. Or the proverbial Golen Rule. I call it the ol' Boomerang Effect. You know, when you do something or say something or even think something....and next thing you know, it comes right back to you. Now this can be cause for alarm or celebration, depending on what you started in the first place. Like if you wish someone a happy day, it's likely you're going to have one too. But if you wish that knucklehead behind you who's riding your bumper so close you can see the whites of his eyes would wrap himself (and his big-assed SUV) around the nearest telephone poll, well...you might want to reconsider that wish. Because you never know what might jump out in front of you when you least expect it.

Part of the reason I'm talking about this is there's been a whole bunch of very cool stuff going on in my world lately. It seems that the past year and all it's struggles have actually taught me some pretty amazing stuff. While it hasn't always been pleasant, I've had the great blessing of having folks around me who really care. They've all tried their best to help me through this little 'detour' and provide as much support as they could. They've also continued to encourage me to keep the faith, so to speak. At times it's been so hard, so excruciatingly painful, that I wasn't sure I was going to live through it. Other times, however, it's felt as if someone wrapped me in the softest cashmere, holding me close and filling me with love. I think they call it God Connection. Whatever the case, I can see now that it's all been for my 'highest good'. It's so clear to me now (isn't it always clear in 'hindsight'?) that this entire experience has been my own kind of hibernation. Or maybe 'cocoon' is a better word. A transformation in the works.

When faced with dis-ease, especially something that immobilizes you, it's easy to slip into the dark abyss of hopelessness. Days when the pain is so great all you can do is lie in bed and sob or pray you'll die....well, those are the worst moments. But then, little by little, as we let go of the psychological pain and just allow our body to do what it does, the pain begins to diminish. The light appears at the end of the tunnel. The abyss turns into a crack. Healing begins. And if we can manage to trust that 'all is well', even when we don't feel like it is, we find our way back to wellness and a whole new dimension of Self. In other words, a whole new beginning.

The Boomerang Effect is about seeing all those good, hopeful thoughts come back around. Being able to find gratitude in one's heart while going through any trial causes us to have more to be grateful for. And when, at last, we can see that by staying grounded in trust we find our way to that lightness of Being again, everything begins to make sense. Everything begins to glow with that stunning light of hope. The world is right again.

Turns out that because I've managed NOT to get all crazed about this experience, and I've done my best to live in that grace of gratitude, all sorts of people, circumstances and magick are showing up to move me forward. I have this new passion, a brand new purpose. And the moment I committed myself ALL KINDS of people began to show up. It's almost hard to believe (but I DO believe it!). Phone calls from strangers who heard about my 'mission'. Letters. Emails. Total strangers in line at the grocery store. All of them offering their help in this endeavor. It's Magick! So, the next time you think it's hopeless, whatever 'it' is, try to remember that part about grace. Take a breath. Take another one. Close your eyes for a second and feel the flow of lovely energy that surrounds you. And, no matter what, remember your Boomerang. It'll come back. I promise.

www.joyzachoice.com

Having some fun with all the 'chatter' going on in my world about this whole 'religion' thing. Such a volatile subject, yet, somehow, so amusing sometimes. I watch as folks go on about the things that get 'em all riled up ('THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD ... AND IT'S MY GOD!" or the age-old argument "I am RIGHT, you are WRONG...and you're going to hell.". Just cracks me up. What I wonder, most often, is 'if there is only ONE GOD, why are you arguing the point? Who cares what you call Her/Him (heehee!)? Great Spirit. Great Mystery. Yahweh. Allah. The Lord. Shiva. Odin. Pan (my personal favorite...bless his smelly, pipe-playing, lascivious Self!). SHEESH! ONE GOD means one god. So what's all the fuss about?

I once had a friend, who is a hard-core, bible-thumpin', right wing Southern Baptist, tell me that if I was so averse to the whole idea (being a 'recovering Catholic and all) maybe I could look at it this way: GOD = Good Orderly Direction. Hmmm. Now there's an idea. Good Orderly Direction indeed. I've always thought that DOG was a much better moniker. DOG = Divine Oasis of Goodness. Makes much more sense to me. Plus, I happen to think Dogs Rule! But I digress.... back to the whole 'who cares what ya call It' thing...

Here's my take ~ since 'we' (Americans) came 'here' (America) in search of religious freedom from the oppressive English we've managed to nearly decimate the entire Native American population. But it didn't start there. For as long as history has been recorded, RELIGION has been the cause of more killings than ANY OTHER CAUSE on the planet. Entire civilations have been wiped out. More than 2 MILLION women were burned alive (those dastardly witches!) just because they had 'gifts. Gifts like being able to heal people or animals. Knowing how to assist in birth (that's right, folks, Midwives were considered witches...and killed for it!). Or even living alone in the forest, growing herbs as medicinals to help heal the sick...all these tihngs and much lesser 'violations' were cause for their demise. Unspeakable horrors that, were I inclined, could take pages, no, make that VOLUMES to even list, let alone describe. UNSPEAKABLE!

So, it would seem that his whole 'religion' thing is way out of control. Always has been. People kill people in the name of their 'god', and are RIGHTEOUS about it. HUH???? But...what if.....what if we're finally entering into a new era, as it were. What if NOW is the time in our Human history that we begin (yes, it's just a beginning) little by little, to ALLOW each other to worship who/what/how we wish, without persecution? I mean, look around. All kinds of sites just like these are popping up and growing faster than weeds on a hillside. There are millions of people buying books, attending seminars, creating new organizations, living JOYFULLY all in the name of Spiritual Freedom. It's AWESOME!

And here we are...all of us...learning, witnessing, living this 'new idea'. It inspires great hope for our species. It motivates people to action. It IS changing the world as we know it. And I, for one, think this is a marvelous time to be on the planet. We may not see the results of our 'work' in this lifetime, but the seeds have been planted. The trees of new spirituality are taking root on our beautiful Mother Earth. People DO care. Now, all we have to do is pull out the weeds, give the seeds some fertilizer and water our gardens. The fruits our labors will appear....maybe not soon enough for some of us, but they WILL appear.

Praise Pan!

Much has occurred in the past 7 days, so much that has affected me on soooo many levels. And for those of you who've read some of my other stuff, you'll know what I mean. (and, for those of you who haven't...well, maybe you might like to! To get caught up and all. You know?) So, onto this whole Life-Changing thing....

Three months ago I had to say goodbye to my girl. I'd had her from the time she was SIX HOURS OLD and spent the next 12 years in her company. She was, in every sense of the word, my Hero. She taught me things no 'Two-Legged' ever could. She loved me unconditionally (really!) and she had the Spirit of an angel. She was my whole heart and more. The day I said 'farewell' was without question the worst day of my entire life, and I'm not kidding about that. I knew I had to do it, but that didn't make it any easier. The ensuing months were sheer agony. Especially at first. Every day for the first few weeks seemed as if it were a year. Every time I tried to do anything, there she was, or rather, there was the big, ugly Void that used to be where she was. Even the darling Chella (my cat), try as she might, wasn't able to stop the crying. I just couldn't seem to get over myself.

Of course, as time usually does, little by little I began to laugh again. Little, soft laughter. My appetite started to kick in. I began to get an hour of sleep here and there. I was, albeit slowly, beginning to 'move on'. Don't know if those are the proper words, but they're the only ones that come to mind. Move on. Or get on with it. Or BREATHE again. Whatever you call it, I was doing it. With each passing day I was more amazed at the resilience of my own heart and my ability to actually live through this horrible grief. But, I did.

Then, as 'Fate' would have it, I was cruising around on CraigsList one day and saw an ad that was simply entitled 'HELP'. Now, I'm not usually the hero type. At least I don't think I am. And I sure don't go looking for mountains of trouble to rescue folks from. But this ad just kept 'calling' and, much as I tried to ignore it, just couldn't. Finally, I thought, 'You know, you may as well just read it. It's gonna bug the bejeebers outta you til you do. Just open it and read, knucklehead.' (I was in a particulary goofy mood that day, hence the comical conversation with Self...but I digress...)

When I opened the ad, I was a bit surprised to find a very well-written (and lengthy) piece about a woman who'd found this pitiful dog walking along the side of the freeway up in the Temecula area. Apparently, the dog had been abandoned and was in dire need of food, water and serous medical treatment. His paw, according to her missive, was bloody and missing 2 pads. All that remained was raw flesh and toes that looked like they were about to fall off. Not a pretty picture, indeed. She went on to explain that she really wanted to help this guy, but she just flat didn't have the resources (time OR money) to do so. She'd had him for 2 months. She posted a picture and asked for any help, be it money, care, adoption, ideas, whatever. She sounded pretty desperate. The picture looked even more so. OH NO!

Well, previously I said I don't consider myself 'the hero type'...but when it comes to critters, that's a whole 'nother story. I have this thing with critters. A gift, really. It freaks some people out sometimes, but I don't have any control over it. I know what they're thinking. I don't say that in 'psychic' terms; rather a kind of deep empathy or something. Whatever. So, I have this thing for critters and I'd been without my Raja for 3 months and here's this guy, looking like he's never had a single chance in his life....so I called her. We talked for an hour, me asking a zillion questions, her telling me his story, or what she knew of it. It did NOT sound promising, at least, not for him.

Turns out, she'd brought him to a Vet one time, found out it was going to cost a small fortune to even determine what was going on, and left with antibiotics and some pain meds. She tried her best, but she just didn't have the time to soak and flush and dress that wound every day. And it just kept getting worse. She knew, deep in her heart, she had to either find a home for him or he was going to die. She also knew that if she brought him to a shelter, he'd be dead in less than 48 hours. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. So she posted the ad.

Now, I have to take a detour here, just for the sake of clarity. I'm not a person who takes an animal into my home without considering ALL the consequences. I've had dogs, cats and horses for most of my life. I know what's required and I do NOT take it lightly. They're my kids. In every respect. So, after I hung up the phone I thought...'maybe not a good idea right now, Camille. You have your own medical stuff going on. Money is mighty tight. This is going to cost a BUNCH of money you don't have. What are you thinking????'

In short, my brain was screaming "NO!!!" but my heart would NOT let it go. After consulting my closest 'tribe' of friends/family, I met Buddy, 3 days later. It occurred to me that WHO I am is far more important than the doubts or fears I may experience as my brain tries to justify my actions. In other words, I wasn't going to let logic overrule. I was going ot do what I coach....live my Life according to my deepest passions, and trust the Universe to help with all the rest of the logistics. Now, before you go judging me, let me just say that I wasn't doing this naively. I was well aware of exactly what I was taking on. And I had a plan.

I've been into network marketing for quite some time now. I've made lots of contacts and met some amazing people along the way. I decided that KNOWLEDGE USED is power. And I was about to use it. So, I met the guy, fell in love and took him home. I had this little voice in my head that kept saying 'Raja sent him. Raja sent him. You need him as much as he needs you. Take him home. It's going to be okay.' I listened to that voice. And I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am that I did. He is as sweet as he is adorable. He's ill, yes. But not incurable. I have a terrific Vet who also happens to be quite a Humanitarian. They all know 'my story', including the part of my Life with Raja. Doc thought it was a splendid idea too. He knew what I knew: the dog is going to die otherwise.

Here we are now, a week later. Buddy has had one toe removed and is on anti-fungal meds for something called Valley Fever (eats the BONES! ICK!!!). He's also taking some antibiotics and getting massive doses of love and attention. In one short week he's gained 3 pounds, has a shining coat and his eyes are smiling...probably for the first time in his life. He has toys and a bed and a Doc who gives a hoot. And, of course, he has me. Buddy hit the Big Dog Lottery. But that's not all. He came into my world so he could live. What he brought was his large love, his complete trust (took him a while, but not as long as you might think!) AND a brand new purpose for this long-winded writer.

You see, as I've been researching various resources to help pay his medical bills, I've learned a ton of stuff. But the bottom line is there are far too many critters in very similar situations: that is to say, their 'people' don't have the money to give them the medical care they need when something 'big' happens. This results in the family or person having to ditch the critter. THIS results in shelters that are overflowing with critters who are then put to death. It is a sad and horrible situation. What does this mean for me? I have so much passion for them. I have tons of time right now, and quite a bit of savvy regarding networking. So...a new non-profit is about to be born. All in the name of Buddy. It is, indeed, 'personal happiness' at it's best.

If you, or anyone you know, would like to help with this Buddy Mission, please visit my website and click on the page 'BuddyBoyFund'. You'll find some pics and a much shorter version of what's going on. Any and all assistance is GREATLY appreciated!

Camille Olivia Strate is an author and coach who takes great pleasure in helping folks 'remember' who they are. She spends much of her time with her beloved animals, her greatest connection to Source. When she's not coaching or writing, she can be found in the garden or on a trail, soaking in the marvels of Nature's offerings.
Her latest book, "Whispers" is now available in eBook format. Hardcopy to follow soon!
Visit her personal site at http://www.joyzachoice.com

It takes courage to see your truth. It takes an unwavering trust that you have the strength to see this truth and live it without fear of crashing to the ground, shattering like fragile glass. Truth is the key to freedom. Freedom is our intrinsic right. We are born free and meant to Live free. Problem lies in what everyone else imposes. Sooner or later, we get to some place where we just can't stand it any longer. We resent the shackles disguised as love. "We get mad, we get strong, wipe our hands, shake it off....and we STAND." (that's a little line from a very cool song that's playing in my head right now...thanks to the Flatts!)

Once in a while, when doubt rears it's ugly head and the whispers turn to shouts, I stop long enough to give it it's due. I don't wallow. I don't fight it. I just listen. What is it trying to tell me? Why is it here now? Is it the voice of someone else, or is it the Being that is ME trying to break free? Can this doubt be a friend? Could it be that it's here now because, once again, I am stretching beyond who or what I am NOW? Could it be that instead of a voice attempting to hold me back, it is a voice that means to urge me on?

These are the questions that pose themselves as I write. The morning is cool and quiet. The coffee is hot. The chimes sing softly outside my window and I am finally able to hear this voice of doubt with a different ear. Doubt is not my enemy any longer. Not today. Doubt is an ally that gently nudges me forward, telling me to just keep looking. The Truth, my Truth, is nothing to fear. It is in the midst of doubt that trust appears. And the more we look, the more we find. It's always there, even when we don't see it. Just as the camera captures more than we saw initially, so does our Spirit capture more than we knew we could ever see.